The council is set to embark on its biggest ever building project and one which will see the first new council homes constructed in the area for decades.

In a few days’ time, work will start to build 275 new affordable homes on sites across the East Riding.

A successful bid for funding was awarded in September by the Government’s Homes and Communities Agency which, together with a further grant from the HCA, has allowed an overall £42 million development project to proceed for affordable housing throughout the East Riding. Construction on site is due to start in March 2010 with all homes being designed to a high level of sustainability and energy efficiency.

Most of the new homes will be two-bedded properties suitable for the elderly and small young families and they will go a long way to meet the acknowledged shortage of affordable homes in the East Riding and help make real inroads into the council house waiting list.

More than two thirds of the developments will have fewer than ten dwellings.

Planning permission has been secured for 230 of the 275 homes, with applications for the remaining 45 going before the area planning committees next week.

The house building project will have a significant beneficial impact in providing local employment and giving a much needed boost to the local economy.

Contracts are in place on all sites with full planning permission and everything is ready to appoint contractors for the remaining sites as soon as planning consent is obtained.

All contracts are to be delivered by companies within a 50 mile radius of Beverley, with around two thirds of the schemes awarded to East Riding/Hull based contractors.

The building programme will provide directwork for 650-750 trade operatives and 45-50 construction professionals with more supporting jobs in the supplies industry. In addition, a minimum of 15 apprenticeship posts will be created.

Councillor Stephen Parnaby OBE, leader of the council, said: “Bringing this major house building project to the starting line against such a tight timescale has been a mammoth task and I would like to thank everyone involved for working so well together to get to this stage.

“The project is excellent news for the East Riding and a wonderful stimulus for the local economy.

“The new homes will provide more affordable housing in the East Riding and go a long way to meet this acknowledged need.”

David Curtis, regional director of the , said: “By providing these homes throughout the area, we are pleased that our funding will allow people to continue to live in their local community in new homes that they can afford. The fact that these building projects will create and safeguard local jobs is a boost for the local economy, and I am particularly pleased that 15 apprentices will receive their training.”

More good news is that the East Riding was again successful in the second round of the scheme earlier this year, receiving a further grant from the Homes and Communities Agency which will allow a further 56 affordable houses. Work on planning consents for these homes is well advanced and all have a scheduled start on site date by the end of June.